Wreaths placed on veterans' graves in Camarillo, Ojai, Simi

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Joe Galante, president of the local Rolling Thunder group, participates in the Wreaths Across America event Saturday at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo. The goal was to place a freshly cut balsam wreath on the headstones of deceased veterans. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR

Bill Kirkpatrick, Navy veteran, prays at the Wreaths Across America event Saturday at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo. Balsam wreaths were placed at the graves of veterans as part f the annual event. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR

Chaplain Lt. Col. Gary Dickey leads the Civil Air Patrol color guard at the start of Saturday's Wreaths Across America event at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo. Wreaths were placed at the graves of veterans at the cemetery and others in Ojai and Simi Valley. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR

June Johnson, left, and her daughter-in-law Cheryl Johnson pray during Saturday's Wreaths Across America at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo. Wreaths were place at the graves of veterans there and at cemeteries in Ojai and Simi Valley. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR

Chaplain Lt. Col. Gary Dickey walks back to the microphone during Saturday's Wreaths Across America event at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo. The cemetery was among the 1,200 across the country taking part in the annual event. JUAN CARLO/THE STAR

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Joe Galante, president of the local Rolling Thunder group, participates in the Wreaths Across America event Saturday at Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo. The goal was to place a freshly cut balsam wreath on the headstones of deceased veterans.(Photo: JUAN CARLO/THE STAR)Buy Photo

Veterans and those who admire them fanned out across three cemeteries in Ventura County on Saturday to place wreaths on the graves of those who served in the armed forces.

Conejo Mountain Cemetery in Camarillo, Nordhoff Cemetery in Ojai and Simi Valley Public Cemetery were among the 1,200 cemeteries across the country taking part in the annual Wreaths Across America program.

In 1992, Wreaths Across American began working toward its goal of having a freshly cut wreath placed on the headstone of every deceased veteran in the United States. It still has a way to go to reach that goal.

While more than 100 wreaths were placed on graves at Conejo Mountain Cemetery, for example, there are about 5,000 veterans buried there, cemetery officials said.

Bob Pratt, who oversaw all three events in Ventura County, said 29 wreaths were placed in Nordhoff Cemetery and 159 in Simi.